Musical instrument



H. J. HEALION MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 13, 19358 INVENTOR. I v IYzzg/z JHeaZion Feb. 11, 1941.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments and has particular relation to miniature pianos and similar instruments where applicable.

Due to the limited space in some modern 6 apartments and small houses, there has been a demand for small musical instruments. This demand is being met by the so-called miniature type, the dimensions of which are much less than those of the usual upright piano. In order to reduce the height, the action must of necessity, be lowered, and since the height of the keys is more or less fixed, various indirect methods of connection between the keys and piano action have been resorted to. It is considered by musicians and instrument builders that the more nearly a direct connection is made between the key and action, the better will be the touch of the key and the quality of the music produced.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved musical instrument of the miniature type.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a piano having an action directly connected from the action to the key, the latter 25 having its outer playing surface above a substantial portion of the action.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved instrument wherein the keybed and key are inclined rearwardly so 3 that a direct connection may be had between the rear end of the key and the action.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved instrument as a piano wherein the wippens are acted upon directly by 35 the rear ends of the keys and wherein the pivot point of the key is above the point of contact between the key capstan and the wippen.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved key having the ivory or finger contacting surface substantially horizontal while the axis of the key makes a substantial angle thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a key having a wedge shaped for- 45 ward portion with a front surface inclined forwardly and downwardly from the ivory finger contacting surface.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification and claims.

Referring to the drawing wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention. the single figure is a cross section of a piano illustrating my invention applied thereto.

In illustrating my invention herein, I utilize a conventional form of piano action. As illustrated, the action rail H0 is located about on a level with the front end of the keybed II and in front of the plane of the piano strings H2. The action rail I I0 is provided with a flange I M carrying a damper lever II5 pivoted thereto in a well known manner. On the damper lever H5 opposite the wippen end, is a damper block us with the damper pad II 6* in contact with the string H2 except during the actual playing of that particular string.

Supported also on the action rail is a flange I l! to which is pivoted the hammer butt H8 which carries the hammer H9. The hammer spring rail I23 is contacted at one end by the hammer butt spring I2I which returns the hammer to its out-of-action position as illustrated. The hammer rail I22 is pivoted on the pivot I23 supported by the piano action brackets.

Supported also on the action frame is a flange I24 upon which is pivoted a wippen I25. The jack I26 is pivoted on the forward portion of the Wippen I and extends upwardly for engagement with the hammer butt IE8 to give movement to the hammer to strike the string. The jack spring I21 engages an arm of the jack at one end and at its other end rests upon the wippen. This jack spring I21 normally holds the jack in position ready for operation.

A regulating screw I28 is mounted in the regulating rail I29 and at its lower end carries a regulating button I 3!]. This regulating button is engaged by an extension of the jack during the playing operation and its adjustment by the screw I28 determines the position of the hammer at the time the jack snaps off the bottom of the hammer butt II8.

At the outer end of the wippen is mounted the check I3I with its coacting member I32 mounted on the hammer butt IE8. The bridle wire I33 is also mounted on the forward end of the wippen I25 and carries one end of the bridle tape I34, the other end of which is attached to the hammer butt H8.

In contact with a pad on the lower side of the wippen I25 is. a capstan screw I35 mounted on the rear end of the piano key [1%. The key I35 is nivotally mounted at I31.

The aforedescribed construction of the piano action is old and further details of its construction and operation will not be set forth.

The keybed III is inclined and carries the piano key I36, also in an inclined position. The key I35 is supported by the pivot I31 which is in a substantially perpendicular relation to the key and preferably at a higher lever than the wippen I25. The key at its rearward end is in direct connection, through the adjustable capstan I35, with the wippen I25 of the piano action.

The forward portion of the key I35 has a wedge-shaped portion I36 which tapers from rear to front. The ivory portion I 35 of the key is in a substantially horizontal plane as is the case in the usual construction. The front end surface I36 is preferably substantially perpendicular to the under surface of the key rather than in a vertical plane. The purpose of this construction is to maintain the proper spacing at the end of the key and key slip.

It will be noted that except for its modified forward portion, the key is of the same general type as is commonly used and may be made substantially the same weight. The line drawn from the wippen pivot to the point of pivot I31 of the key I36 does not pass far from the contact point between the key capstan I35 and the wippen I25. This has a tendency to maintain the touch and reduce the friction at this point to a minimum. In fact the parts involved in the operation of my construction, operate in a manner similar to the usual construction.

It will be clear from the foregoing that I have produced an action and key construction which has all of the advantages of the direct action between the keys and actions and at the same time possesses the advantages of making it possible to have a low case as in the drop action instruments.

While I have illustrated and described in detail an embodiment of my invention, and have described it in connection with a conventional piano action, I desire to have it understood that the disclosure is merely illustrative and that modifications and changes in structure and application may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within its scope as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A musical instrument comprising a drop action and including a wippen, a key bed, a key having a wippen contacting portion, a finger contacting ivory portion located above a substantial portion of the action and being pivoted on the key bed, the key having the forward end of its ivory, its pivot and rear wippen contacting portion substantially in alignment and having a direct upward lift from the rear end of the key to the wippen.

2. A musical instrument comprising a drop action and including a wippen, a key bed, a key having a wippen contacting portion, a finger contacting ivory portion located above a substantial portion of the action and being pivoted on the key bed, the key having the forward end of its ivory, its pivot and rear wippen contacting portion substantially in alignment and having a direct connection from its rear end to the wippen, the wippen axis, key pivot point and contact points of key and wippen being in the same general straight line and forming a rearwardly diverging angle with the ivory portion.

3. A musical instrument comprising a drop action and including a wippen, a key bed, a key having a wippen contacting portion, a finger contacting ivory portion located above a substantial portion of the action and being pivoted on the key bed, the key having the forward end of its ivory, its pivot and rear wippen contacting portion substantially in alignment and having its rear end extending under the wippen, the surface of the ivory portion forming a rearwardly diverging angle with the line through the point of pivot and the point of contact with the wippen.

4. A musical instrument comprising a drop action and including a wippen, a key bed, a key having a wippen contacting portion, a finger contacting ivory portion located above a substantial portion of the action and being pivoted on the key bed, the key having the forward end of its ivory, its pivot and rear wippen contacting portion substantially in alignment and having a direct upward lift from its rear end to the wippen, the wippen axis, key pivot point and contact points of key and wippen being in the same general straight line when the key is depressed.

HUGH J. HEALION. 

